Robinson revelling in upcoming fishing season at energetic 84
So, there I was, with an expensive leader, and this was a man with a leader from a supermarket
Rognvald 'Ronnie' Robinson is counting the days and hours to April 1 when the season opens at Harlaw and Threipmuir Reservoirs above Balerno. He loves the water – and the octogenarian is almost certain to be there at first light on the opening day, and not just to fish.
The 84-year-old still acts as stand-in bailiff, provides detailed reports to the board on daily catch returns and also sits as a committee member on Malleny Angling Ltd, the notfor-profit organisation which administers both waters.
His services to the club were celebrated at the annual meeting when the Edinburghbased angler was awarded the Chairman's Trophy for an outstanding contribution.
As chairman, this writer recalled: "I noticed an elderly gentleman hooking into fish almost every cast on an area known as The Dam Wall. I failed to get a touch. The next day up I went, again early. The same elderly gentleman was there, reeling them in again. I nodded and moved on.
"That scenario played out on several mornings, and eventually I plucked up the courage to ask: 'What are the patterns you are using?'
"A subsidiary question, what is your leader? I had Grand Max on and it was failing to produce. The answer was: Lidl. I asked for clarification. ‘Lidl,’ came the reply.
"I still was confused and the angler said: '£1 from the centre aisle.'
"So, there I was, with an expensive leader, and this was a man with a leader from a supermarket. During the following weeks we spoke more.
"Ronnie was a constant up there, filling in for bailiffs. One morning at around 9am he conceded that he had not had breakfast, then the duty bailiff failed to report in. Without hesitation Ronnie said he would stay to lunchtime."
Ronnie also spends hours on his computer compiling catch reports providing invaluable information to the board, which is used to consider numbers for re-stocking. He also sits on the club committee, providing an in-depth knowledge of both waters.
Meanwhile, Malleny Angling have confirmed their prices for the coming season which starts on April 1. They are £30 for a full-day ticket from 8am, which allows an angler to keep three fish. A full-day catch and release day permit is £25 when only barbless or debarred hooks are allowed, and the evening catch and release permit is £20, available from 5pm once the longer nights come in. Season permits are still available for £290 offering seven-days-a-week fishing. Contact secretary.malleny@ gmail.com for full details. Free permits are available for anglers 17 years and younger to encourage young people into the sport.
Meanwhile, fishing at Scotland's premier water, The Lake of Menteith, was officially opened for the season by Alyn Smith MP for Stirling, and the best area by far was the drift betwen Lochend over the buzzer beds to Arnmach. Quint Glen, the manager, said the best tactic was to use buzer, diawl bach or cormorant patterns on various midge tip lines.
Some found success with the bung, pulling lures and even on dry flies, and 493 fish were landed, an average of 14 per boat.
Closer to home, Glencorse Reservoir opens for the season on March 23, and the season runs until October 20 with day sessions Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 4.30pm for two boats or more and by booking only.
Fishing has been good at Bowden Springs near Linlithgow, and top rod was Mick Ogilvie. He could not fish Drumtassie because of a competition and switched to Bowden to land 14 fish, five of them brown trout, and the biggest 6lb, on egg patterns. Ryan Bruns had nine on cormorant patters.
In other news, The Scottish National Fly-Fishing League (SNFFL) got under way in brutal conditions at Harelaw Trout Fishery near Glasgow, with a strong easterly wind and temperatures barely above freezing. Damsels and black and silver lures on sinking lines proved best.
Mike Cordiner (Aberdeen and District AA), who has 19 caps, won the Premier Division and Scott Robertson (Dundee) the First Division.
There are 12 sessions over six days on six separate venues, loch style, stillwater and rivers, and the next one is at Ledyatt near Dundee on Saturday, March 23.
Second in the Premier Division was Archie Ferguson (Lochgelly SRC) and third
Ian Wilson Clatto AC. In the First Division, Bob Robertson (unknown club) was second with Stevie Corsar (Aberdeen and District AA) third.
Several anglers from the Lothians took part, including multi-caped Martin Stewart, who was fourth equal in the Premier along with Dick Logan, a three-time National river champion, while Keith Renton, a World Masters team silver medallist was last in the Premier. Andy Foggan was sixth in the first.
The top five in the Premier go to the world championship, the next five to the European, with the top four in the First Division fishing in the five nations against England, Ireland, France, Norway and or Belgum.